BREAKING NEWS: Injunction Issued on New Overtime Laws
On November 22, 2016,  U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant granted a preliminary injunction on the new overtime rules that were to take effect December 1, 2016. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant III ruled in favor of the plaintiffs  who argued that the new OT rules would have caused an an increase in government costs in their states and would…
TurboTax Software Admits to Errors
Turbo tax is helping taxpayers in Alabama after errors were uncovered in its state income tax software that led some taxpayers to inadvertently overpay or underpay their taxes. In 2013, the Minnesota Department of Revenue advised taxpayers to review their returns for possible errors. Online tax software are great programs for basic secular returns but is…
All Tax Preparers Are Not Created Equal For Clergy Returns
All Tax Preparers Are Not Created Equal For Clergy Returns It is not unusual for a minister to rely solely on a general tax professional who may or may not specialize in church and clergy tax matters. It is not enough anymore to just ask if the tax preparer does ministers’ taxes, but ask the tax…
New Overtime Laws Could Affect Church Employees
The US Department of Labor announced that they had finalized a new law that has extended overtime benefits to nearly 4.2 million working Americans. Starting December 1, 2016, salaried employees that make less than $47,476 ($913/week) per year will be eligible for overtime pay if they work more than 40 hours in a work week….
Is Clergy Auto Allowance taxable?
An auto or gas allowance is a cash payment given to you each pay period by the church for the purpose of covering your automobile ministry expenses. When you receive an auto allowance, it is considered taxable “compensation” and included with your wages reported in Box 1 on Form W-2. Federal tax law allows you…
Clergy Dual Status
Clergy Dual Status Employment Status for Other Tax Purposes Even though for social security tax purposes, you are considered a self-employed individual in performing your ministerial services, you may be considered an employee for income tax or retirement plan purposes. For income tax or retirement plan purposes, some of your income may be considered self-employment…
Taxable or Non-Taxable Clergy Income?
Taxable or Non-Taxable Clergy Income? Generally, most income you receive is considered taxable but there are situations when certain types of income are partially taxed or not taxed at all.  All sources of income are fully taxable and must be included in your income unless it is specifically excluded by law. To help clergy understand…
Estimated Tax Payments
Clergy Estimated Tax Payments The US tax system is a quarterly system, not an annual one. Tax payments are due at least quarterly, and the year-end return is simply a reconciliation of the activity. If you receive income in the first quarter of the year, the taxes are due at the end of that quarter,…
Tips for Clergy Who Missed the Tax Deadline
Tips for Clergy Who Missed the Tax Deadline File as soon as possible. If you owe federal income tax, you should file and pay as soon as you can to minimize any penalty and interest charges. There is no penalty for filing a late return if you are due a refund. Penalties and interest may…
Year end tax strategies
Year end tax strategies Here’s a quick checklist of tax savings strategies to consider and apply before the end of December: 1. Make Charitable Contributions and Donations: Generally, for individuals, contributions to tax-exempt charitable organizations are limited to 50 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the tax year. Those unused items cluttering closets…